The Duke Blue Devils continued their impressive run on Saturday, defeating the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets with ease, 82-56, marking their sixth consecutive win of the season.
Ranked No. 5 nationally, Duke showcased its dominance on the court at McCamish Pavilion, orchestrated by the stellar performance of its players, particularly freshman Cooper Flagg. Flagg, regarded as a future NBA talent, contributed 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists during the game, demonstrating his ability to impact the game positively.
Coach Jon Scheyer commented on Flagg’s growing influence on the team, noting, "I loved how aggressive he was. It changes the whole dynamic of our team when he's looking to attack." This mindset allowed Duke to maintain momentum throughout the contest, keeping their winning streak alive.
On the offensive side, Duke’s performance was bolstered by Kon Knueppel, who led the scoring with 18 points, alongside impressive contributions from Tyrese Proctor and others. Altogether, four Blue Devil starters scored in double figures, establishing their well-rounded offensive capability..
Georgia Tech, on the other hand, faced difficulties as it struggled to generate offense against Duke’s suffocative defense. The Yellow Jackets entered the game with hopes of leveling their record but found themselves at the mercy of Duke's relentless attack. Their guards accounted for disappointing shooting stats, going 9 of 31 from the field, which severely hampered their fight for momentum.
Despite strong efforts from big men Baye Ndongo and Dwight Powell, Georgia Tech’s offense fell short. Ndongo led the Yellow Jackets with 14 points, and Powell added 13. Yet, their contributions proved insufficient as Duke out-rebounded Georgia Tech 36 to 25, leaving the Yellow Jackets unable to capitalize on second-chance points.
This game marks the Yellow Jackets’ largest loss of the season, adding to their struggles at the start of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) schedule. After the game, head coach Damon Stoudamire acknowledged the challenges his team faced, particularly against quality opponents like Duke. He expressed, "To beat a team like Duke, you've got to play for 40 minutes. You can't have lulls in the game."
With this defeat, Georgia Tech now moves to 5-7 overall and 0-2 against ACC teams, hoping to regroup before their next matchup. Their recent performances have raised concerns, especially after they previously suffered substantial defeats against other major teams. The Yellow Jackets are set to play their final nonconference opponent next week before focusing entirely on ACC competition.
Duke’s performance against Georgia Tech has elevated their status to No. 2 on the KenPom rankings as they are now only trailing behind Auburn. The Blue Devils have shown consistent improvement this season, especially on the defensive end. Their ability to restrict opposing teams below 60 points regularly has been particularly noteworthy, establishing them as one of the strongest defensive teams this year.
Following this win, the Blue Devils are gearing up for their next challenge against Virginia Tech, aiming to continue their ascent up the rankings. They are now 10-2 this season, and their successes have positioned them as potential favorites for this season’s ACC title.
With strong performance from both returning players and freshmen like Flagg, Duke hopes to keep this impressive streak intact and maintain their status as one of college basketball's top teams this season.
